After a commanding victory over Zimbabwe, India have kept their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive and breathing. The Men in Blue are now firmly in the race for a semi-final berth, but their path is far from easy. The upcoming clash against West Indies is a virtual knockout — whoever wins will punch their ticket to the semis.
With the stakes sky-high, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his insights on how mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy can elevate his game and deliver a match-defining performance.
Irfan Pathan on how Varun Chakaravarthy can unleash his ‘A game’ in the clash against West Indies
Chakaravarthy’s tournament statistics reflect consistency. He currently stands as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 wickets in six matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.20. Those are solid numbers in a high-scoring T20 era. However, despite the encouraging figures, the Tamil Nadu spinner hasn’t quite looked at his intimidating best and had produced concerning performances in the recent few games. The sharp bite off the pitch, the unplayable variations, and the aura of unpredictability that once rattled batters seem slightly muted.
With India heading into a do-or-die contest, the team will hope their mystery weapon rediscover his most lethal version. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted minor technical adjustments that could transform Chakaravarthy’s impact against West Indies.
According to Pathan, it’s all about subtle refinements rather than major overhauls.
“Against West Indies in Kolkata — a pitch he knows well — he can bounce back. Just a slight adjustment in length, maybe come closer to the stumps around the wicket to left-handers, and he’ll be back. If he picks up an early wicket, he can create serious pressure,” Pathan said.
The advice centers around bowling a fraction fuller or shorter depending on conditions and attacking from tighter angles, especially against left-handers. By coming closer to the stumps and operating around the wicket, Chakaravarthy could cramp batters for room and force mistakes. On a Kolkata surface that traditionally offers grip and turn, those minor tweaks could prove decisive.
Recent dip in Varun’s form raises questions
Chakaravarthy’s overall figures in the tournament still look impressive on paper, but his last two outings have sparked a bit of concern. In the clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad, he leaked 47 runs at a steep economy rate of 11.75, managing just a single wicket. The trend continued in the next game versus Zimbabwe, where he conceded 35 runs in three overs, going at 8.75 per over.
These performances stood in sharp contrast to his strong showing in the group stage, where his clever variations and tight control played a key role in providing India with timely breakthroughs.
